Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. repeatedly dodged questions on Monday regarding the potential of running on a third-party ticket in the 2024 presidential election under the No Labels movement.
The two appeared alongside at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Monday to unveil their platform, called Common Sense.
When asked about how a Democrat and Republican sharing the White House would ‘work,’ Manchin went after President Joe Biden by saying: ‘A hell of a lot better than what you have today.’
Manchin also dismissed concerns that his candidacy could serve as a ‘spoiler’ to President Joe Biden that will help former President Donald Trump become president.
Sen. Joe Manchin said if a Democrat and Republican were to serve in the White House together it would work ‘a hell of a lot better’ than the current Biden White House. Democrat Manchin (left) appeared with Republican Jon Huntsman (right) at a No Labels event in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday
‘I’ve not been in any race I’ve ever spoiled, I’ve been in races to win. And if I get in the race, I’m going to win,’ the West Virginia senator said when pressed by the moderator on the potential of a ‘unity ticket.’
Huntsman assured that he has ‘no idea’ what Manchin is going to do regarding a presidential bid after in the past saying he is weighing a run and will make a decision by the end of the year.
With less than seven months until the first-in-the-nation primary elections, candidates are already descending on the Granite State in troves – along with the first caucus state of Iowa and other early primary contest states of South Carolina and Nevada.
The event Monday evening kicks-off the first in a series of town halls with politicians supporting the ideals of No Labels. It was described by the organizers as the: ‘Rollout of what the American people want their government to do.’
The keynote speakers for the first town hall were moderate Sen. Manchin and former Utah Gov. Huntsman, who was also the Ambassador to China under Barack Obama and the Ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump.
It was clear the consensus in the room is that Manchin and Huntsman are likely to launch a bid for president together.
Other special guests on Monday included former Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman; North Carolina’s former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory; ex-Republican Rep. Fred Upon of Michigan; former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina; Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.; Adm. Dennis Blair, the former U.S. Director of National Intelligence under Obama.
McCrory said that the plan is to put out a presidential and vice presidential candidate on the 2024 ticket under No Labels. Hoping to have both a Democrat and a Republican on the ticket.
Lieberman and Chavis are national co-chairs of No Labels along with Maryland’s former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who did not attend the rollout on Monday.
Manchin assured he would not serve as a ‘spoiler’ if he enters the 2024 race because he intends to ‘win’
While introducing the rollout of a 30-point platform called Common Sense, No Labels co-chair and Democratic Civil Rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. (right) said ‘Americans want more choices and want more voices’ ahead of 2024
‘Americans want more choices and want more voices as we prepare for [2024],’ said Chavis, a Democrat. ‘We are putting democracy before party.’
One attendee at Monday’s town hall was very clear that they have no illusions about the chances of a third party candidate winning the presidency in 2024. When asked about supporting the No Labels movement regardless, he told DailyMail.com: ‘We have to try, right?’
Another realist supporter of the movement who identified himself as Adam said that he is hoping to help lay the groundwork for a third party candidate to win in the future.
No Labels is hoping to help prove that there are alternatives to the candidates produced by the two-party system – and is pushing to focus on the ideas put forward by individuals instead of the party label placed on the candidate.
There are already 15 Republicans running in the 2024 primary and President Joe Biden even earned two longshot challengers with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson.
The U.S. political system has become increasingly reliant on polarizing labels of Democrat and Republican – with voters oftentimes lining up behind whichever candidate aligns with their party affiliation or lean.
Gallup has been tracking the trend of party affiliation since 2004 – and the latest from June shows that 44 percent of Americans consider themselves independent. Meanwhile, just 25 percent identify as Republican and 27 percent as Democrat.
March 2023 saw a record high number of Americans identifying as independent with 49 percent.
Unveiled at the event was No Label’s Common Sense booklet, which is filled with roughly 60 pages proposing ’30 big ideas to tackle America’s greatest challenges.’
McCrory said during some opening remarks that the goal of No Labels is to ‘influence the agenda of politicians that are coming to New Hampshire and other states during the primary season.’
‘If we can influence them with this Common Sense agenda then we are already influencing this election and shifting the debate,’ he said.
Much of the focus of the Republican race for president right now is the shift toward ‘wokeness’ in American society – specifically in regards to gender identity and transgender issues.
Regarding ‘wokeness and genders and things,’ Manchin said: ‘I was raised to believe that every American should have the opportunity to qualify of life.’
‘I don’t care who you are, I don’t care who you love, I don’t care what you are,’ the moderate Democrat added. ‘You should have an opportunity for quality of life. That’s my job – to make sure you have that access. We can treat each other – I mean, the love of America – the whole world is watching us in this.’
